Oden apologizes for nude shots on Internet

PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden has publicly apologized for the posting of nude photos of himself on the Internet.

Oden, 22, said the images were sent as a lark more than a year ago to a female friend who apparently passed them on to a third-party.

"I've had better days," said Oden, who has been sidelined since early December with a fractured knee cap.

The (Portland) Oregonian said Wednesday the anonymous operator of the Web site claimed in an e-mail he was doing the world a "public service" by posting the images. He compared it to the coverage of Tiger Woods' marital troubles.

The newspaper said the reaction of Blazers fans thus far has largely been indifference, although there have been some calls for him to be traded.